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FIRST XI
Matches
Sat 12 Apr 2014  ·  Premier Division
Colliers Wood United
2
0
Molesey Football Club
FIRST XI
Colliers Wood 2-0 Molesey - Official Match Report

Colliers Wood 2-0 Molesey - Official Match Report

Mark Billett14 Apr 2014 - 17:04
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https://www.moleseyfc.co.uk/te

The end of the season can’t come soon enough for Molesey as their sixth defeat in seven games runs the risk of a lowest ever Combined Counties League finishing position and points total.

By Andrew Finch

Colliers Wood have become Molesey’s bogey side in recent years, and their eighth consecutive victory over the Moles was not without its controversy, not least the state of the playing surface, which resembled a beach rather than pitch.

The Moles might have cause for complaint about the manner in which they fell behind, with the ref deeming that Ollie Robinson had prevented Dan Harding from getting on the end of Mario Embalo’s cross.

The fact that the ref only booked Robinson when Harding would otherwise have had a tap in suggests that he wasn’t 100% sure about the decision, which looked slightly harsh as Robinson looked like he’d used his body sensibly to prevent Harding reaching the cross. Darren Caesar made no mistake from the spot.

That said, Wood were good value for their win, and sealed the points when Theo Woodhouse set up Harding to fire home with five minutes remaining.

Unsurprisingly given that it’s their home turf/sand, Wood adapted to the conditions better and put the Moles under some early pressure.

The workrate of the Molesey players could not be faulted, but their decision making could, as several times in the opening 15 minutes they were guilty of over-playing at the back on a surface that encouraged a more direct approach.

A combination of Wester Young’s poor goal kick and the Moles centre halves allowing Embalo in front of them nearly resulted in the opening goal, as Embalo’s heavy touch goalwards resulted in a foot race between keeper and striker, which the striker won but could only place the ball in the trees behind the goal from a tight angle.

Young pulled off a terrific point blank save from Harding and Eli Ogunseye hit an effort just wide as the home side dominated, but the Moles gradually got themselves back in the game as the half wore on, and arguably had the best two opportunities of the opening 45 minutes when Ubong Utmong was denied by Michael Eacott when clean through, and soon afterwards Tom Windsor volleyed over the bar from 8 yards after Robinson’s long throw had caused panic in the box.

James McShane saw an effort from 25 yards whistle past the top corner with Eacott not in the same postcode.

Aime Blessing carried the Moles’ most potent goal threat, and his direct run and pass set up McShane early in the second half, but Eacott saved well, and the rebound was poked harmlessly wide.

Utmong had two presentable efforts in the box but seemed to get his feet caught in the sand on both occasions and the threat was snuffed out by a combination of goalkeeper and defence.

The workrate and skill of the Wood front players caused the Moles problems all afternoon and they got in behind on numerous occasions but didn’t test Young as regularly as they should have, but it came as no surprise when they took the lead, despite the debatable nature of their opener.

Molesey threw on Ashby Charles and Jamie Linegar to try and salvage something from the game, and there was a welcome late cameo for Peter songs following a season disrupted by injury, but the home side made the game safe when Embalo was clean through but then held up by Young and Robinson. He eventually found Harding, whose deflected effort secured the points.

The Moles now have five games to try and avoid a bottom half finish and need another seven points to avoid worsening their 12th place finish and 58 points total that was set in 2008/09.

Match details

Match date

Sat 12 Apr 2014

Kickoff

15:00

Attendance

37

Competition

Premier Division
Team overview
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